Part Seven, Friday 8:00 AM
Painful Choice

Hanamichi idly posed for the camera. She was absent in school today for she felt so down. Okina knew of her truancy so she was forced to pose for a few magazines. Knowing how persistent Okina could be, she complied.

Okina watched Hanamichi, as the girl was being made-up. Youhei had told her of the redhead's problem with her friend, Sendoh. Usually, Okina would not interfere. But this time, she was worried. Hanamichi as a girl seemed to be more sensitive than as a boy.

"Hana?" Okina approached Hanamichi after the make-up artist was done with her.

"Hai, Mito-san?"

"Anou… Youhei mentioned to me that you had an argument with your new friend. Is that true?" Okina asked cautiously to the girl. She could clearly see the girl's eyes watered but the tears were blinked away rapidly.

"I hurt him," Hanamichi admitted softly.

Okina nodded in understanding. "Youhei did mention that too. But, Hana-chan, don't burden yourself too much. You were just being honest with yourself."

Hanamichi fell silent. Too silent for Okina.

"Hana?" she inquired with worry.

Hanamichi gave a start.

"Gomen. I was just thinking," Hanamichi said.

Okina nodded again. She would have wanted to talk more but the photographer gave a sign that the pictorials were starting.

When Hanamichi stood up, Okina stopped her with a firm hold with her elbow.

"We'll talk later, Hanamichi."

Hanamichi seemed startled that Okina called her by her true name. But recovered when the photographer began yelling for her. She tried pull away but Okina resisted.

"Hai," she agreed to Okina when the woman refused to let go until she said so.

Okina smiled in a motherly way.

"I'm just worried about you, Hanamichi," she whispered. She then let the redhead go.

Hanamichi nodded woodenly.

'I'm worried about myself too,' Hanamichi thought with dread.

6:00 PM, Shohoku basketball gym

Rukawa kept glancing at the clock. He cursed as Akagi gave orders like a bullet from a gun. He wanted the practice to be finished so he could go to Hanamichi's house to investigate why the redhead was absent in her classes. Mito Youhei and the rest of Hanamichi's friends were watching the practice that night, even though the redhead was not there. Anzai-sensei was also present that night.

Kogure watched Rukawa glance at the clock every other minute. He frowned slightly, an action that was not lost to an observant Mitsui.

"What's wrong?" Mitsui asked the bespectacled boy.

Kogure nearly jump off his skin. "Don't startle me like that, Mitsui-kun!"

Mitsui gave him a bored look. "Yeah, whatever."

Kogure sighed deeply. "I'm just…"

"Studying Rukawa as he counts down the minutes," Mitsui finished for him.

Kogure looked embarrassed.

Mitsui smirked. "Don't worry. You're not the only one who noticed that Rukawa seemed distracted tonight. Heard a rumor that the redhead girlfriend of his didn't show up at school today." He nodded his head at Rukawa's direction.

"Oh," was all Kogure could say in reply.

Mitsui looked at him closely. "Know anything about it?"

Kogure blushed. "About what?" he asked innocently.

Mitsui gave a long-suffering sigh. "Kogure-kun?"

"Hai?" Kogure fidgeted when the three-pointer gave his an accusing glare.

"Did you have a talk with Hanamichi?"

Kogure nearly had a heart attack. "How did you know?" he squeaked.

"Aha! I knew it," Mitsui exclaimed triumphantly then chuckled evilly, catching attention.

Kogure watched in misery as the whole team's attention zoomed in on them.

"Hush, Mitsui-kun," he pleaded.

"Hey, guys!" Mitsui called everybody.

Kogure looked pale and stricken. "Mitsui-kun, onegai."

Mitsui was deaf to his pleas. "Guys, Kogure here had talked to Hanamichi."

Silence struck the gym. Except for Anzai-sensei, Rukawa and the guntai, everyone rushed to Kogure's side and started firing question after question. Even Ayako tugged at his arm to get him to answer her question. Kogure could only stare at the team with a confused and scared look.

Rukawa was shocked to hear the news. He stood rooted to the ground, his mind running in turmoil.

'How did he know?' he thought as he looked around for the Sakuragi guntai.

The guntai each shook their heads. They too had worried expressions etched on their faces.

'Is this why Hanamichi didn't go to school?' was the question in their minds.

Kogure was getting very panicky at the rush of questions raining on him. "Gomen ne but I made a promise to Sakuragi-kun not to tell any of you where he is," he yelled to get everyone to listen to him.

Ayako frowned in impatience. "Demo, Kogure-sempai," she pouted. "I think the whole team deserves an explanation for his long absence."

The team agreed whole-heartedly.

Kogure looked at them. He looked around the gym and spotted Rukawa staring at him in shock.

"Tasukete, Rukawa-kun," Kogure begged. "Onegai."

Rukawa blinked them moved to help the bespectacled boy out of the circle of wild Shohoku team members.

"Stop where you are, Rukawa," Mitsui threatened, stepping in front of Rukawa. "Or else I'm gonna tell them that you have a crush on Sakuragi," he lied.

That ceased all activities.

Rukawa stared at him emotionlessly. "In case you didn't know, my girlfriend happens to be a Sakuragi," he said deadpan.

Mitsui wasn't daunted that his bluff didn't work. "Honto ni? You like redheads or something?" he taunted. He made signs to Miyagi to get Kogure into the locker room.

Miyagi was puzzled at the movements of Mitsui's hands behind his back and didn't move at all.

'Goddamnit, Ryochin! Move!' Mitsui thought in frustration when Kogure remained standing behind him.

"So? Answer my question, Rukawa," another sign to Miyagi and this time, Miyagi got the message.

Miyagi pulled Kogure quietly to the locker room. Unfortunately for Miyagi, the Sakuragi guntai interrupted.

"Do'aho," Rukawa replied to the stupid question.

"Nani?! Who you calling do'aho?!"

"Quit copying lines, Micchy," Takamiya jeered. The guntai laughed at the embarrassed three-pointer.

"Urusai!" Mitsui yelled, blushing furiously.

Miyagi in the meantime tried to smuggle Kogure again into the locker room (for a lengthy interrogation) but Youhei and Sauichiro stood on guard of the locker room door while the other two kept a firm hold on Kogure.

Kogure felt like a rope on a tug-o-war.

"Okay! Fine!" Miyagi gave up. He glared at the stubborn guntai then turned to Kogure angrily. "Sempai, we deserve an explanation on Sakuragi's absence. Kuso! Is he having a vacation or something?"

Kogure shook his arms to get the blood to circulate properly again. He was obviously ignoring all glares aimed at him.

Mitsui, losing his patience, walked up to Kogure and shook him like a rag doll. "Speak, man, speak!" he demanded.

Everyone face-faulted.

"What's the meaning of this?" someone yelled thunderously.

Everyone fretted and stared at the enraged captain.

Akagi was angry. He left just to get a drink and got back to find the team capering around a strangled vice-captain and the former MVP.

Mitsui unconsciously dropped the near-blue Kogure.

Kogure gasped for precious air.

"I'm waiting," Akagi bellowed.

The team members were so scared; none spoke up for nearly a minute.

Two veins appeared on Gori's forehead, and when he was about to yell again, Ayako bravely raised her hand.

"You're so brave, Aya-chan," Miyagi praised the girl with hearts in his eyes.

Ayako ignored him. "Anou, Captain," she started. "We're so sorry for all the excitement. But you see, Kogure-sempai slipped up and told Mitsui-sempai that he had talked to Sakuragi-kun." Ayako took a long breath after she explained.

Akagi turned to Kogure at the floor. "Is this true?" he asked.

"Hai," Kogure answered honestly. He was still messaging his neck for it felt like it was about to break by Mitsui's shaking.

"Did you talk to Sakuragi?" Akagi interrogated.

Kogure was silent for a moment while he was contemplating if he should answer the question or not. He looked at Akagi and decided to tell the truth. Well, partially, that is. "Hai."

A lengthy pause.

Akagi glared at Kogure. "Don't make me ask you another question."

Kogure laughed nervously. "Gomen ni. I made a promise to Sakuragi-kun not to tell anyone anything."

"You value that promise more than your life?" Mitsui asked.

"We can torture you for information, you know," Miyagi threatened gravely.

Kogure smiled angelically. "A wound heals but a scar will remain," he said wisely.

"Huh?" was everyone's answer except for Akagi.

Akagi sighed deeply. "It means that if he breaks his promise to Sakuragi, Sakuragi will never trust him with a secret again," he explained.

"Oh," answer from the enlightened group.

Unknown to the team, Akagi Haruko stood just outside the open door of the gym and heard the ruckus. Her two friends were with her and looking at her worriedly.

It wasn't Kogure's confession of talking to Sakuragi that rattled the girl. It was the matter-of-fact way that Rukawa admitted of having the new girl as his girlfriend.

"Haruko-chan?" the two girls asked worriedly at Haruko.

Haruko seemed to snap out of her reverie and gave her worried friends a strained smile.

"Daijobu des," she croaked. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Daijobu des, honto ni. Ah, shouldn't we be going home now?" she said then walked away from the gym like a zombie.

The two looked at her worriedly but followed the heartbroken girl silently.

As they neared a corner, they spotted a familiar redhead walking towards them. Haruko froze and so did the other two girls.

Hanamichi was nervous. She left the pictorial in a hurry, not wanting to talk to Okina. She went home and donned her old oversized T-shirt and jeans. She planned to tell Anzai-sensei and Akagi everything. Knowing how pushy Akagi can be, she expected the team to be still in the gym. She didn't expect to see Haruko, though. She's jittery as it is.

"Konbanwa, Haruko-san," she greeted with a nervous smile. She didn't like the look Haruko was giving her. A knife could easily cut the tension in the air.

"Anou…is Captain Akagi still at the gym?" the nervous redhead asked. When the glaring girl didn't answer, she laughed nervously. "Of course, he's still at the gym, you're still here because if you were not here…"

"So you're Rukawa-kun's girlfriend," Haruko interrupted Hanamichi's babble in a cold tone.

Hanamichi was rendered speechless. Her past acquaintances with Haruko never revealed how cold the once friendly girl could be.

"What do you mean?" Hanamichi inquired.

Haruko laughed, making the hairs on Hanamichi's neck stand up.

"Are you a witch or something? You came here, all nice and easy, then you made the most gorgeous guy fall in love with you in a span of what? Four days?" Haruko said in a very bitchy manner. "Did you know that your brother hated Rukawa-kun very much? And here you are bitching with his mortal enemy while he's away."

All the while Haruko made her speech, she was walking towards the shocked and getting angry redhead. Hanamichi felt the flicker of rage build up inside her chest but she calmed herself by reminding herself that Haruko was just hurting. It was hard, for each word that came out of the girl's mouth made her want to maul the girl.

Haruko's friends were also shocked at Haruko's behavior. They never saw their friend in such manner before. The girl was always calm and forgiving, never losing her temper. 'Silent waters run deep', the saying rang in their ears.

Haruko circled the girl slowly while muttering hateful words. "So? How will you explain this to your brother? Or do you plan to hurt Rukawa by breaking his heart? Hmmm? Cat got your tongue? Or you're too guilty? Tsk! Tsk! I wonder what your brother will do once he finds out you're Rukawa's girl. I bet he won't like it." Haruko stopped behind Hanamichi and touched the girl's hair softly.

Hanamichi span around and slapped the girl's hand away. "Yamero, Haruko-san! You're being unreasonable!" Hanamichi kept a tight rein on her temper as she snarled at Haruko.

"Unreasonable?" Haruko feigned ignorance. She then laughed hysterically.

That served as the trigger for Haruko's friends to move.

"Come on, Haruko," Matsue tugged Haruko's arm.

"Let's go home," Fujii begged at the hysterical girl.

Haruko sobered but shook off Matsue's hand. Matsue tried to tug her back but Haruko glared at her. Matsue had no choice but to let her be.

Haruko turned back to Hanamichi and without preamble attacked her. Hanamichi was surprised but her past fights with hoodlums made her quick to avoid Haruko's nails. But Haruko was expecting her to swirl so Hanamichi found herself beneath Haruko trying to protect her face from the girl.

Matsue and Fujii were aghast. They tried to pull Haruko away from Hanamichi by holding on to her arm. Haruko fought them off.

This gave Hanamichi a chance to fight back. So Haruko was the one beneath Hanamichi, taking hard slaps from the angry redhead. Haruko tugged hard at Hanamichi's hair as the long tresses fall near her hands.

Matsue and Fujii watched the fight hopelessly.

Hanamichi was so angry that she forgot that this was Haruko, the girl whom he thought he loved. She kept attacking Haruko. Lucky for Haruko, Hanamichi lost her usual strength when she became a girl.

Suddenly, someone pulled Hanamichi off Haruko and a hard slap was delivered at the redhead's left cheek.

Hanamichi's eyes immediately brimmed with tears due to the pain. Her eyes widened considerably when she saw Youhei assisting the fallen Haruko. She knew that it was Youhei who slapped her. She felt warm arms embraced her and looked to see Rukawa kneeling beside her.

"Daijobu des ka?" asked the worried Rukawa. He reached out to touch Hanamichi's injured cheek and his eyes hardened with anger.

"Daijobu des!" Hanamichi reassured the angered youth. "I'm invincible!"

Rukawa nodded gravely.

Hanamichi turned his attention to Youhei and Haruko. She barely noticed the whole team surrounding them. Haruko was whispering something to Youhei! Hanamichi saw Youhei nodded then helped the girl to her feet.

Hanamichi hastily stood up. "Youhei?" she called out when Youhei turned away from her. A cold glare froze Hanamichi to the spot.

"Youhei?" she cried. Her eyes brimming with tears. "Naze?"

"Naze?! You know, Hanamichi, you should try not being stupid for once! Maybe you'll be able to answer your own question!" Youhei snarled angrily.

The Shohoku team gasped in surprise when Youhei addressed the girl as Hanamichi. They turned to Kogure and the bespectacled boy nodded gravely. Takamiya, Ookuso and Sauichiro were silent and scowling.

Everyone was again surprised when Rukawa punched Youhei suddenly. Youhei retaliated and nearly hit Hanamichi. It was the three stooges that stopped Youhei's fist from hitting Hanamichi.

Rukawa wanted to punch Youhei more for hurting Hanamichi but the redhead stopped him by blocking him from Youhei.

Youhei was enraged but the three vigilantly protected the redhead.

"Yamero, Mito," Sauichiro said in a serious tone. "You hit Hanamichi once already. Hit her once more and I promise you, I'll personally break your arm."

The other two nodded in agreement.

Youhei had no choice but to withdraw.

Rukawa stared at the redhead who silently begged him not to start a fight with Youhei. He sighed in defeat and embraced the girl.

Turning back to Youhei, he demanded, "Apologize to Hana." He felt Hanamichi stiffen.

"Why should I apologize to a very selfish person?" Youhei retorted.

Rukawa heard Hanamichi whimper. He glared at Youhei.

Youhei laughed dryly. "You claimed to be a tensai! Yet you proved your stupidity by your present state," he taunted the redhead.

Hanamichi spun around and looked at Youhei with hurt, shock and disbelief all over her face. Tears freely flowed.

Youhei felt like . He wanted to take back what he said but the damaged was done. Hanamichi turned away and fled.

Rukawa ran after Hanamichi.

The crowd silently watched the two. Each turned to Youhei when they heard Takamiya addressed Youhei clearly.

"We all know you're a jerk sometimes. But I never thought that you could be this cruel," he accused bitterly. "That applies to you, too, Haruko-san."

Haruko was horror-struck to find out that her friend, Hanamichi, was the one that she just attacked. She stared blankly at the angry figures of the three guntai.

"Demo…" she stuttered. "Isn't she Rukawa-kun's girlfriend?"

Youhei looked like a ten-wheeler truck hit him.

Suddenly, the white ghost appeared.

"Go back inside the gym," he ordered without his usual cheer. "We'll wait for them inside."

No one questioned him, of how he knew that the two would be back, as they all followed the order. Thunder could be heard while lightning flashed from a distance.

It seems that a big storm was coming.

Shohoku gym, 10:30 PM

Ayako observed the few people left in the gym. Majority of the team members went home around eight and it was already ten-thirty. Mitsui, Miyagi, Akagi and Kogure sat near Anzai-sensei. The shocked Haruko sat and was staring vacantly at the wall; Youhei was beside her along with the other three guntai members.

Ayako sighed. She suddenly felt tired but she didn't want to go home. The storm was slowly brewing outside and the gym was getting chilly. Suddenly, the gym door opened, revealing an exhausted Rukawa.

Everyone silently stared at the raven-haired boy. Rukawa looked at them blankly but scowled when he spotted Youhei. He strode with purposeful steps towards Hanamichi's best friend.

Youhei watched him passively.

Rukawa stopped when he was in front of the passive boy.

"Where did Hanamichi go?" he asked in a very cold voice.

Youhei looked at him blankly. Rukawa snapped and punched him.

Akagi immediately stepped between the two angry boys before Youhei could retaliate.

"Calm down, Rukawa," he barked. "You won't get answers that way."

Rukawa didn't answer the Shohoku captain. He kept glaring at Youhei who glared back.

Tense silence settled in the usually vibrant gym.

Youhei was the first to look away. He sighed deeply.

"Even if I knew where Hanamichi is, I won't tell you," he said seriously.

"Naze?"

Youhei looked at Rukawa straight in the eye. "Because you'll only hurt my best friend," he replied.

"I love her."

"Her?" Youhei laughed. "You've forgotten Rukawa, that Hanamichi is originally a boy. He's bound to return to that form."

Rukawa frowned.

"Will you still love Hanamichi if he becomes a boy again?" Youhei asked gravely.

"Where is she?" Rukawa sidetracked.

Youhei closed his eyes as he realized that Rukawa didn't love Hanamichi as the girl honestly thought.

"I don't know," Youhei sighed in defeat.

Rukawa scowled.

"I know."

Everyone stared at Kogure in surprise.

"Sempai?" Ayako uttered.

Kogure smiled gently. "I told Hanamichi a secret last night," he admitted.

Youhei frowned. "Last night? I was with Hanamichi last night."

Kogure nodded. "Hai. But I waited until Hanamichi was alone before I talked to him."

"Him?" this time it's the very-sorry Haruko.

Kogure pitied the young brunette. "Hai, him, Haruko-san. Hanamichi might look like a girl, but, most of the time, he's not even aware of the transformation."

"How do you know that, Megane-kun?" Youhei inquired.

Kogure shook his head. "I can't tell you," he answered with a smile. Turning to Rukawa, he informed, "Sakuragi-kun's at the old spot where the Fushigi carnival made a tent. I told him that he could find the gypsy there again on the eve of the seventh day of his wish."

Rukawa nodded then took off. He stopped when Kogure called him again.

"Rukawa-kun," Kogure appealed to the stoic boy. "Hanamichi plans to reverse the spell."

Rukawa froze. He breathed deeply then walked out of the gym.

Youhei was staring at the retreating back of Rukawa then he turned to Kogure.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a tight voice.

"Hai."

Youhei nodded then turned to the three silent stooges.

"Go home," he ordered. "Hanamichi doesn't need a crowd tonight."

Sauichiro scowled. "How dare you! We're his friends too."

Ookuso agreed with a vigorous nod.

Takamiya scowled. "I think I agree with Mito, guys," he told the two.

"Eh?" Sauichiro and Ookuso gawked at him.

"Hanamichi doesn't need us tonight. Our presence might hurt him rather than build him up," Takamiya reasoned out.

"When did you grow a brain?" Ookuso muttered seriously.

Takamiya gave him killer eyes.

"And a heart?" Sauichiro asked.

Takamiya gave him killer eyes too.

Youhei smiled sadly before walking out of the gym.

"Mito-kun," a gentle voice called out softly.

Youhei turned to face Haruko.

"Nani?" he asked softly.

"Onegai, give this to Sakuragi-kun," Haruko placed a handkerchief in Youhei's hand. "I just want to say I'm sorry for everything I have said and done this evening." Haruko was crying in remorse.

Youhei handed the handkerchief back. "Why don't you give this to him after this can of worms ends?"

Haruko shook her head. "Give it to her tonight, she might need it. I'll apologize personally to him tomorrow."

Youhei nodded. He walked out of the gym after tucking the handkerchief in his pocket. He turned his motor on immediately after hopping onto it. He was praying that he'd be able to get to Hanamichi before he did anything stupid that he'll regret.